In this proof-of-concept, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel, multicentre, phase 2 study, the authors recruited patients aged 75 years or older who had fallen in the past year from 21 investigator sites across Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Sweden, and the USA. Eligible patients had low performance on hand grip strength and chair rise tests, tested with the procedure described by Guralnik and colleagues.

Participants were stratified by country, age, hand grip strength, and performance on the chair rise test, and were randomly assigned (1:1) by a computer-generated random sequence to receive subcutaneous injections of placebo or 315 mg LY at weeks 0 (randomisation visit), 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20, followed by 16 weeks observation.

The primary outcome was change in aLBM from baseline to 24 weeks. The authors measured physical performance as secondary outcomes (four-step stair climbing time, usual gait speed, and time to rise five times from a chair without arms, or with arms for participants unable to do it without arms) and exploratory outcomes (12-step stair climbing test, 6-min walking distance, fast gait speed, hand grip strength, and isometric leg extension strength).

Between June 19, 2012, and Dec 12, 2013, the authors screened 365 patients, of whom 99 were randomly assigned to receive placebo and 102 to receive LY. Treatment was completed in 85 (86%) of patients given placebo and in 82 (80%) given LY.

Injection site reactions were recorded in nine (9%) patients given placebo and in 31 (30%) patients given LY (P < 0.0001), and were generally mild, and led to treatment discontinuation in two patients given LY.

These findings indicate that LY treatment increases lean mass and might improve functional measures of muscle power. Although additional studies are needed to confirm these results, suggest LY should be tested for its potential ability to reduce the risk of falls or physical dependency in older weak fallers.